Short answers, pulled from the story.
Human immunodeficiency virus is a retrovirus that primarily infects components of the human immune system such as CD4+ T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. It directly and indirectly destroys these critical white blood cells.
HIV is spread primarily by unprotected sex including anal oral and vaginal sex contaminated hypodermic needles or blood transfusions and from mother to child during pregnancy delivery or breastfeeding. The risk of transmission from anal intercourse is especially high estimated as 1.4, 1.7% per act in both heterosexual and homosexual contacts.
The first news story on the disease appeared on the 18th of May 1981 in the gay newspaper New York Native. AIDS was first clinically reported on the 5th of June 1981 with five cases in the United States.
HIV screening is recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force for all people 15 years to 65 years of age including all pregnant women. Additionally testing is recommended for those at high risk which includes anyone diagnosed with a sexually transmitted illness.
Treatment consists of highly active antireviral therapy ART which slows progression of the disease. As of 2022 39 million people globally were living with HIV and 29.8 million people were accessing ART.